Sleeping-car.



E. E. TAIT.

SLEEPING GAR.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 6, 1912.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

EFE. TAIT.

SLEEPING GAR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1912.

1,083,640. Patented Jan 6, 1914.

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ac 99km y/ Edwin E b M UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

EDWIN E. TAIT, OF BRADFORD, JE'ENNSYLVANIA.

SLEEPING-CAR.

osaeao.

Application filed January 6, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN E. TAIT, c1t1- zen of the United States, residing at Bra dford, Pennsylvania, have invented cert-am new and useful Improvements in Sleeping- Cars, of which the following is a speclfication.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a sleeping car in which a larger number of persons can be accommodated with lower berths than can be accommodated therewith in sleeping cars as now constructed.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan View of a portion of the sleeping car at one end embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional View lengthwise of the berth or compartment from corner to corner on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the cushions with an arm rest.

The car may be made of sheet steel, the plates and partitions being formed with suitable flanges for riveting the parts in place. The walls or outsides and the floor may be formed of single plates or sheets, or if desired, with double plates with suitable packing between. I divide the car into a number of compartments by partitions 1, extending at an angle of about l5 from the sides to the aisle 2. These partitions have openings therein between the points 3-3, which may be closed by any suitable form of curtains or boards, so as, when desired, to inclose each compartment entirely from the others. By arranging the compartments at an incline in respect to the length of the car, as shown, I am enabled to secure compartments of proper lengths for the formation of a bed or berth therein, and to place a larger number of these compartments in a car than would be possible were the compartments arranged at right angles to the length of the car. The wall of the compartment adjacent the aisle is offset, as shown at 4 in respect to the aisle. These ofi-sets on one side of the aisle may be staggered in relation to the off-sets on the other side of the aisle respectively. All oif-sets on one side of the aisle may come directly opposite the other ofi-sets on the other side of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 191a.

Serial No. 669,890.

aisle, depending upon the relative position of the inclined compartment partitions. These off-set portions provide spaces in the aisle whereby passengers are enabled to pass each other in the aisle with comfort. These inclined compartment partitions extend from the floor to the roof of the car, being suitably secured by rivets thereto. At the ends of the car suitable waiting rooms are provided, and also a smoking compartment, linen closet and toilet rooms, these being arranged substantially in the relation shown in Fig. 1, and it will be observed that a wide vestibule is also provided at the end of the car at 5.

It will be observed that door-ways lead into the compartments from the aisle. Each compartment contains the necessary structure for making up a bed or berth, which structure may be converted into a seat for day use, It may be any suitable chair or chairs for day use, so constructed as to be readily converted into a bed for night use; or each compartment for day use may be provided with fixed or permanent seats, one at each end of the compartment, facing each other, with space between for feet and limbs of the passenger; also with a sufiicient space at the aisle end, opposite and adjacent to and communicating with its door-way, whereby ingress and egress may be had between the aisle and the fixed seats of each compartment; and for night use berth cushions of proper size to fill said spaces may be supported therein thus providing a sleeping berth in each compartment. I do not confine myself to the use of such seats and beds, nor do I limit myself to the convertible chairs. Any convertible bed or seat may be employed in the compartments.

The compartment A is made up for day use.

The compartment marked B shows the adjustment or arrangement of the parts within the compartment with some cushions removed and the compartment C shows therein the parts of the bed arranged for use as such. This bed comprises cushions 6, 7 and 8, which are adjustable or removable, and cushions 9 and 10 which are fixed in place. The fixed cushions are supported by a suitable frame work, part of which is shown at 11, this being supported above the floor in any suitable manner, as indicated at Fig. 2, to afford space beneath for the storage of baggage or portions of the bed when the compartment is made up for day use. When so made up the cushions 7 and 8 are removed and stored beneath or within the frame, and the cushion 6 is adjusted so that it will be supported partly by the main part of the frame at the cross bar 12 thereof andpartly by the lugs 13 projecting from the sides of the frame, these lugs being in a lower plane than the top of the cross bar 12 so that the cushion 6 will be slightly inclined downwardly from its broad end toward its narrow end and thus form a comfortable seat. WVhen the cushion 6 is to form a part of the bed it is supported by the parts 12 and 14 of the bed frame, but by drawing the cushion slightly forward its rear or small end may be tilted down within this frame to rest on the lug 13. For day use the broad slat 15 is also removed and stored under the couch or within the bed frame and this will leave a clear space, as at A, when using the cushion 6 as a seat. The cushion 8, however, may be employed as a back for this seat and it is so shown in the compartment A, and also in Fig. 2, this cushion simply resting with its larger end upon the rear or smaller end of the cushion 6 and inclining slightly backward toward the corner of the compartment. In order to form arm rests I provide detachable members 16 having bent lower ends at 17 engaging sockets 18 on the under side of the cushion 6, the members 16 having broad and preferably cushioned arm rests at 19. lVith the compartment made up for day use it will be seen that a comfortable seat is formed with the cushions 6 and 8 for one person, and that the cushion 9 may be used by another person as a seat. Each compartment has a lavatory and a drinking fountain and suitable racks for toweling.

In Fig. 3 the water cooler is shown at '20 and the basin or lavatory at 21. These are arranged at the acute angle corner of the compartment between the converging outer wall of the car and the inclined partition. The basin 21 is hinged at 22 so that when not in use it may be thrown to the position shown in Fig. 3, the said basin being carried by a plate 23, which when raised to the vertical position closes the space at the corner of the compartment from side to side. The raising of the basin will discharge the water which may be led off through any suitable passage. Hot andcold water for the basin can be had through water pipes with faucets located in the extreme acute angle corner of the compartment formed by the outer wall of the car and the inclined compartment partiti-on; the discharge end of the faucets extendingover or into the outside end of the basin when it is lowered.

Upon rising from the berth the occupant may throw the covering to the side or to one end of the compartment, and may provide himself ample space for standing when washing and dressing by simply removing the cushions 7 and 8 and the broad slat 15, and placing them at one end of the compartment, or under the remaining cushion. The occupant can then lower the basin 21 and wash and dress and complete his toilet in private and without interruption. This slat 15 has projections at 24: to fit in openings in the couch or bed frame so that it will be held securely in place and the cross bar or frame member 12 also has an opening at 25 to receive a projection on the seat cushion 6. The shutters or boards for closing the openings between the points 33 in the partitions may be of any suitable form, for instance of sections hinged together or connected by a spring in the form of a sheet of material 26, the edges of said shutters or closures being grooved to receive the beveled edges of the partitions at points 3 3; During the day time these shutters or closures may be all removed throughout the oarso that an unobstructed view may be had at any compartment throughout the car, or if desired any compartment can be closed in by adjusting the shutters or closures into position.

The door-ways leading into the compartments from the aisle may be closed when desired, in any suitable manner, preferably by curtains suspended from poles near the ,ce1ling of the car and reaching to the floor. The curtains may be double, the outer edges thereof being fastened to the respective aisle off-sets at each side of the respective V tion of the car tends to cause the person to side step while walking along the aisle.

The car is ventilated by the use of small Windows near the ceiling in the usual man ner.

The "car may be heated by steam or hot water pipes passing through each compartment in any convenient manner.

In structure the car is reinforced and made stronger and practically non-wreckable, by reason of the partitions between the compartments being inclined in respect to the length of the car, and being secured to the outside walls, to the floor, and to the ceiling or roof of the car, and as well to the respective aisle off-sets, and thus the car is rendered non wreck'able when constructed clliiefly of steel, and as well non-combustih e.

There is as shown "a large outer window in each compartment. 7

I claim as my invention 1. In a sleeping car a plurality of vertical permanent partitions forming a series of compartments extending at an inclination to the length of the car, and a passageway extending longitudinally of the car, substantially as described.

2. A sleeping car comprising the series of compartments extending at an inclination to the length of the car, and with an aisle between the compartments on one side of the car and those on the other, the walls of said compartments adjacent the aisle being ofiset in respect to the aisle to provide recesses communicating with the aisle, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a sleeping car, having the inclined compartments, the walls thereof ofi-set adjacent the aisle and communicating with said aisle, substantially as described.

4. In a sleeping car, the combination of the compartment partitions extending at an inclination to the length of the car, and the aisle, and on each side the aisle, the partitions having recesses off the aisle, substantially as described.

5. In a sleeping car, in combination with the seats, floor and roof, partitions extending at an angle to the length of the car, forming compartments; said partitions being secured to the seats, floor and roof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN E. TAIT.

Witnesses:

KATHARINE BURKE, EDGAR W. TAIT,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

